Changing Lives in Minneapolis

Did you know that in the Central and Phillips neighborhoods of South Minneapolis 50 percent of minority youth will not graduate from high school? Wooddaler Jennifer Howison knows and she’s working to change it. You can, too!

This past summer, Jennifer interned with Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation, a faith-based organization in South Minneapolis with a mission to break the cycle of generational poverty one person – one family – at a time. The purpose of Urban Ventures is to “provide a safe place to identify and overcome obstacles, discover faith, connect with a caring staff and empower youth and adults to make positive life choices.”

Last March, Jennifer found herself interviewing to become a part of that work. “Walking out of the interview, I’m not sure I could have felt more inadequate. It was my freshman year of college, and while I was home on a break I had felt strongly that God was calling me to do something different with my summer, but I didn’t know what.”

That calling turned out to be working in the Urban Ventures Learning Lab – a year-round after school academic support program that works to help elementary and middle school students improve their academic performance through general scholastic review, various electives, weekly field trips and Bible lessons.

Jennifer and the rest of the Urban Ventures staff began getting to know each other and preparing for the task ahead of them midway through June. Torn between excitement and intimidation, Jennifer trusted that God would work through her. “I remember when Michael – the teacher whom I assisted – informed me that I was going to be in charge of math for the 4th and 5th graders, and how I felt like he couldn’t have chosen a task more opposite for me than what I would have chosen myself,” recounts Jennifer. But as the program got up and running, everything fell into place. “I was amazed daily by how God would open my eyes to see how he was active in the lives of the kids. Where I felt inadequate, God reminded me that I was the person he chose for the job. Where I felt like I had things figured out, God reminded me that without him I can do nothing.”

Loving and encouraging the kids in an environment of hope and safety despite their tough situations at home was a privilege for Jennifer. She recalls being struck by the determination and resolve of a young student to memorize his Bible verses; “One of my boys, Tyrese, blew my mind as he challenged himself to be the best at each and every memory activity. Tyrese struggles a lot in the classroom and is one of those kids who require a lot of patience. It was such a joy to hear him repeating Jeremiah 29:11 all the way home in the van that afternoon!”

Jennifer sums up her summer as an incredible experience full of learning and growth. “My internship confirmed in many ways what I want to continue pursuing academically and taught me in a very tangible way that I am not my own. Serving at Urban Ventures was huge a blessing and I pray that God will continue to refine me and use me for his glory!”